U.S. patent application number 13/546739 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-01 for method of constructing replication environment and storage system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hitachi, Ltd. Invention is credited to Hironori Emaru, Satoshi Kaneko, Nobuhiro Maki.
Application Number | 20120278574 13/546739 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42038789 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120278574 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kaneko; Satoshi ; et
al. |
November 1, 2012 |
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING REPLICATION ENVIRONMENT AND STORAGE
SYSTEM
Abstract
A management computer collects a usage condition of a volume
from a host computer and a storage apparatus at each site,
consolidates management thereof, and prevents a volume from
duplicating among applications as a copy source. This makes it
possible to select a used volume in an application as a copy source
without excess or deficiency and to create a copy pair
configuration definition without duplication or incompatibility. If
a replication environment is constructed in a large-scale storage
system, the consolidated management of a usage condition of a
volume collected from the host computer and the storage apparatus
at each site makes it possible to create a copy pair configuration
definition by a task constituted by a plurality of
applications.
Inventors: |
Kaneko; Satoshi; (Yokohama,
JP) ; Maki; Nobuhiro; (Yokohama, JP) ; Emaru;
Hironori; (Yokohama, JP) |
Assignee: |
Hitachi, Ltd
|
Family ID: |
42038789 |
Appl. No.: |
13/546739 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13213772 |
Aug 19, 2011 |
8234474 |
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13546739 |
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12272305 |
Nov 17, 2008 |
8024536 |
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13213772 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
711/162 ;
711/E12.103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0632 20130101;
G06F 11/2069 20130101; G06F 3/067 20130101; G06F 3/0605 20130101;
G06F 3/0653 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
711/162 ;
711/E12.103 |
International
Class: |
G06F 12/16 20060101
G06F012/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 24, 2008 |
JP |
2008-244216 |
Claims
1. A management computer, for use in a context wherein one or more
host computers and one or more storage apparatuses communicate with
each other via a first network, and wherein the one or more host
computers and the one or more storage apparatuses communicating
with the management computer via a second network, the management
computer configured to acquire an application configuration
information identifying via the second network, a volume of one of
the storage apparatuses used by an application in one of the one or
more host computers, the management computer further configured to
create management computer application configuration information
identifying the volume of one of the storage apparatuses used by
the one host computer, using the acquired application configuration
information, and configured to store the created management
computer application configuration information in a memory unit,
the management computer configured to acquire information on an
unused volume in each of the storage apparatuses via the second
network from each of the storage apparatuses, the management
computer configured to create volume configuration information in
which the created management computer application configuration
information and the acquired information on the unused volume is
arranged, and configured to store the created volume configuration
information in the memory unit, the management computer configured
to create a configuration definition of a copy pair including an
original volume into which data in the host computer is written and
a duplicated volume into which data is copied, and configured to
store the copy pair configuration definition in the memory unit,
and the management computer configured to select, upon
specification by an input unit of a group constituted by a
plurality of applications at a primary site and a remote site, a
volume used by the specified group without duplication by
referencing the volume configuration information, and configured to
determine the selected volume as a copy source volume, also
configured to determine the unused volume as a copy destination
volume, and configured to create copy pair configuration definition
information associating the copy source volume with the copy
destination volume.
2. The management computer according to claim 1, wherein the group
is constituted by one or more applications constituting a task.
3. The management computer according to claim 1, further comprising
the management computer configured so that if the management
computer determines from the application configuration information
that an application has a cluster configuration, then management
computer displays a name of an active application among two or more
applications configuring the cluster.
4. The management computer according to claim 1, further comprising
the management computer configured so that, if the application is a
composite application constituted by a plurality of
sub-applications, the management computer creates composite
application configuration information associating a name of the
composite application with names of the sub-applications
constituting the composite application, and stores the created
composite application configuration information in the memory unit,
and the management computer is further configured to display the
name of the composite application on the display unit.
5. The management computer according to claim 4, wherein the group
is included in the composite application.
6. A management computer, for use in a context wherein one or more
host computers and one or more storage apparatuses communicate with
each other via a first network, wherein the one or more host
computers and the one or more storage apparatuses communicate each
with the management computer via a second network, wherein the
management computer is configured to acquire information on a
virtual machine in one of the one or more host computers and a used
volume in the virtual machine, wherein the management computer is
configured to create virtual machine configuration information
associating the information on the virtual machine and the used
volume acquired by the virtual machine configuration information
acquisition unit, and storing the virtual machine configuration
information in a memory unit, wherein the management computer is
configured to acquire information on an unused volume from the
storage apparatus, wherein the management computer is configured to
create volume configuration information in which the virtual
machine configuration information and the information on an unused
volume acquired by the unused volume information acquisition unit
is arranged, and storing the created volume configuration
information in the memory unit, wherein the management computer is
configured to create a configuration definition of a copy pair
including an original volume into which data in the virtual
computer is written and a duplicated volume into which data is
copied, and storing the copy pair configuration definition in the
memory unit, and wherein, upon specification by an input unit of a
group constituted by plural virtual machines as a copy source, the
management computer is configured to select a volume used by the
specified group without duplication by referencing the volume
configuration information, to determine the selected volume as a
copy source volume, also to determine the unused volume as a copy
destination volume, and to create copy pair configuration
definition information associating the copy source volume with the
copy destination volume.
7. The management computer according to claim 6, wherein the group
is constituted by one or more applications constituting a task.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] Japan Priority Application 2008-244216, filed Sep. 24, 2008
including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract, is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application
is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/213,772, filed
Aug. 19, 2011, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety,
which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/272,305,
filed Nov. 17, 2008, incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a method of constructing a
replication environment in which a copy pair of a volume used by a
group constituted by a plurality of applications is created in a
storage system including a host computer, a storage apparatus, and
a management computer; and to the storage system.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Along with a wide spread of information systems, an amount
of data handled by computing systems has been increased
explosively. Importance of the handled data has also grown
drastically. A high-level reliability in protecting such data has
been required. Thus, a system of disaster recovery (DR) which can
protect data from a logic failure (system failure) and a physical
disaster has increasingly become important.
[0006] In the DR system, data can be duplicated by storing data
outputted from a host computer which performs a task, not only in a
volume in a storage apparatus directly connected to the host
computer but also in a volume of another storage apparatus.
[0007] Typically, so-called local copy and remote copy are used in
an information system which requires a high-level reliability. The
local copy refers to a copying in which a data in a volume in a
storage apparatus is copied in another volume of the same storage
apparatus. The remote copy refers to a copying in which a data in a
volume in a storage apparatus is copied in a volume in another
storage apparatus. The local copy and the remote copy are
collectively referred to as a replication. With a technique of the
replication, if a volume has any trouble and cannot perform its
operations, another volume can take over them using a duplicated
data stored therein. Two volumes as a copy source and a copy
destination in a replication relationship are collectively called a
copy pair.
[0008] A replication is typically performed by selecting a volume
used by an application desired to be copied, as a copy source, and
selecting a volume having a free space sufficient to newly create a
copy from the copy source, as a copy destination. This operation
creates a configuration definition of a copy pair. A remote copy is
performed by, as a preliminary operation, executing an initial copy
based on information on the copy pair configuration definition
prepared as described above. The initial copy means a copying of
all data in the copy source volume into the copy destination
volume. After executing the initial copy, an update copy is
performed to the copy destination volume each time the host
computer provides write data to the copy source volume. If a
storage system as a copy source has any trouble, a task in the copy
source volume can be restored using the copy destination volume in
a storage system as a copy destination.
[0009] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application, Publication No.
2005-11311 discloses a technique of creating a copy pair
configuration definition by specifying an application as a copy
source, in a storage system including a plurality of host computers
and a plurality of storage apparatuses.
[0010] In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application, Publication No.
2005-11311, a resource at a copy destination (a secondary computer
resource) is selected based on at least a set of user-specified
policy. The policy used herein includes characteristics (for
example, reliability) of a secondary computer resource and a cost
thereof. Nevertheless, such a selection does not give sufficient
consideration to a task executed in the host computer.
[0011] A problem in constructing a DR system is an environment
construction of a replication by a task as a unit. This is because,
if a task is constituted by a group configured by a plurality of
applications, protection of one or more specific applications alone
is not sufficient to carry on the task. Such a task may be
constituted by a plurality of associated applications, or a
specific application in the task may have a cluster
configuration.
[0012] The present invention has been made in an attempt to solve
the aforementioned problems. The present invention provides a
method of constructing a replication environment in which a copy
pair of a volume used by a group constituted by a plurality of
applications in a storage system is created, and the storage
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] A management computer consolidates management of a usage
condition of a volume collected from a host computer and a storage
apparatus at each site and prevents a volume from duplicating among
applications as a copy source, by an application as a unit. This
makes it possible to select a used volume of an application as a
copy source without excess or deficiency and to create a copy pair
configuration definition without duplication or
incompatibility.
[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
exemplary drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general configuration of a
storage system according to a first embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management
computer according to the first embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a host
computer according to the first embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage
apparatus according to the first embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an application
configuration table stored in the host computer according to the
first embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an application
configuration table stored in the management computer according to
the first embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of a volume
configuration table at a primary site in the management computer
according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an
example of a volume configuration table at a remote site in the
management computer according to the first embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a copy pair
configuration definition table stored in the management computer
and the storage apparatus according to the first embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a graphical user
interface (GUI) according to the first embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing of copy pair
configuration definition creation according to the first
embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an application
configuration table stored in a management computer according to a
second embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a cluster
configuration table according to the second embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a composite
application configuration table according to a third
embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI according
to the third embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management
computer according to a fourth embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a host
computer according to the fourth embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a volume in
a storage apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a VM (virtual
machine) configuration table stored in the host computer according
to the fourth embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a VM
configuration table stored in the management computer according to
the fourth embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 20A is a diagram showing an example of a volume
configuration table at a primary site stored in the management
computer according to the fourth embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 20B is a diagram showing an example of a volume
configuration table at a remote site stored in the management
computer according to the fourth embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI according
to the fourth embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing of copy pair
configuration definition creation according to the fourth
embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI according
to a fifth embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing of copy pair
configuration definition creation according to the fifth
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0040] Next is described an embodiment of the present invention.
The present invention is not, however, limited to the embodiment
described below.
First Embodiment
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a general configuration of a storage system
according to the first embodiment. The storage system includes a
storage apparatus 1300A (which may be collectively referred to as a
storage apparatus 1300; ditto below), and host computers
1200A(1200),1200B(1200),1200C(1200), which are connected via a data
network 1500A(1500) (which may also be referred to as a first
network). The storage system also includes a storage apparatus
1300B(1300) and host computers 1200D(1200),
1200E(1200),1200F(1200), which are connected via a data network
1500B(1500). The management computer 1100, host computers 1200, and
storage apparatus 1300 are connected via a management network 1400
(which may also be referred to as a second network). The storage
apparatuses 1300A and 1300B are connected via a remote network
1600.
[0042] The data network 1500 herein is a storage area network (SAN)
but may be an IP network or any other data communication network.
The management network 1400 herein is an IP network, but may be a
SAN or any other data communication network.
[0043] The management computer 1100 herein is directly connected to
the storage apparatus 1300 but may acquire necessary information
via the host computer 1200. The data network 1500 and the
management network 1400 herein are separately provided but the data
network 1500 may also serve as the management network 1400. Or, the
management computer 1100 and the host computer 1200 may be one
single computer unit. For convenience of description, the storage
system shown in FIG. 1 includes two storage apparatuses 1300, six
host computers 1200, and one management computer 1100. In the
present invention, however, the number of those units is not
limited to this.
[0044] In this embodiment, a set of the host computer 1200, the
storage apparatus 1300, and the data network 1500 for connecting
the two formers is herein referred to as a site. A plurality of
sites is typically provided at geographically separated locations.
This is because, if a site at a certain location is damaged and
cannot continue its operations, another site at a separated
location which is not damaged can take over them. In FIG. 1, the
storage system includes a primary site 1700 and a remote site 1800
which is a backup site of the primary site 1700. This configuration
is referred to as a two data center (2DC) configuration.
[0045] In the 2DC configuration, a remote copy is performed between
the primary site 1700 and the remote site 1800 via the remote
network 1600. The remote copy herein means a technique of
duplicating a data by copying a data from a volume in a storage
apparatus into a volume in another storage apparatus. Using the
remote copy technique, if a volume has any trouble and cannot
perform its operations, another volume can take over them using a
duplicated data stored therein. Two volumes as a copy source and a
copy destination in a remote copy relationship are collectively
called a copy pair. For convenience of description, the storage
system of the present invention includes two sites. However, the
number of those units is not limited to this.
[0046] FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 show configurations of the
management computer 1100, host computer 1200, and storage apparatus
1300, respectively.
[0047] In FIG. 2, the management computer 1100 includes an input
unit 1150 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a CPU (central processing
unit) 1160, a display unit 1170 such as a LCD (liquid crystal
display), a memory 1130, a local disk 1110, and a management
interface 1180 for sending and receiving a data or a control
instruction for a system management to and from the host computer
1200. The local disk 1110 is a disk unit such as a hard disk drive
connected to the management computer 1100 and stores a management
program 1120 therein. The management interface 1180 is an interface
to the management network 1400.
[0048] The management program 1120 is loaded into the memory 1130
in the management computer 1100 and is executed by the CPU 1160.
The management program 1120 is a program in which a function of
performing a configuration definition of a copy pair is provided
via the input unit 1150 such as a keyboard or a mouse or the
display unit 1170 such as a graphical user interface (GUI).
[0049] The management program 1120 includes: an application
configuration information acquisition unit 1122 for acquiring
information on a used volume in an application in a host computer
at each site; an application configuration table creation unit 1124
for creating a table in which information acquired by the
application configuration information acquisition unit 1122 is
arranged; an unused volume information acquisition unit 1125 for
acquiring information on an unused volume from a storage
microprogram in the storage apparatus 1300; a site volume
configuration table creation unit 1126 for creating a table in
which the table created by the application configuration table
creation unit 1124 and the information acquired by the unused
volume information acquisition unit 1125 are arranged; a GUI
display unit 1127 for providing an interface of creating a
configuration definition of a copy pair to a user; and a copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 for conducting a
processing of copy pair configuration definition creation.
[0050] The management table 1140 in the memory 1130 includes; an
application configuration table 1142 (which may also be referred to
as application configuration information, see FIG. 6) created by
the application configuration table creation unit 1124; a site
volume configuration table 1144 (which may also be referred to as
site volume configuration information, see FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B)
created by the site volume configuration table creation unit 1126;
and a copy pair configuration definition table 1146 (see FIG. 8)
representing configuration definition information of a copy pair.
Details of each of the tables will be described later.
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a host computer according to
the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the host computer 1200 includes an
input unit 1240 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a CPU 1220, a
display unit 1250 such as a LCD, a memory 1270, a storage interface
1260, a management interface 1265, and a local disk 1210.
[0052] The management interface 1265 is an interface to the
management network 1400 and sends and receives a data or a control
instruction to and from the management computer 1100. The storage
interface 1260 is an interface to the data network 1500 and sends
and receives a data or a control instruction to and from the
storage apparatus 1300. The local disk 1210 is a disk unit
connected to the host computer 1200, such as a hard disk drive and
stores therein a plurality of applications 1212, 1213,1214 and an
agent program 1216.
[0053] The plurality of applications 1212, 1213 and 1214 are loaded
into the memory 1270 in the host computer 1200 and are executed by
the CPU 1220. Each of the applications 1212, 1213, and 1214 is a
program for executing a task by reading or writing data to a volume
in the storage apparatus 1300. Each of the applications 1212, 1213
and 1214 may be a DBMS (data base management system) or a file
system. For convenience of description, FIG. 3 shows three
applications. In the present invention, however, the number of the
applications is not limited to this.
[0054] The agent program 1216 is loaded into the memory 1270 of the
host computer 1200 and is executed by the CPU 1220. The agent
program 1216 is a program for acquiring information from an
application based on instructions from the management computer
1100. The agent program 1216 includes: an application configuration
information acquisition unit 1217 for acquiring information on a
used volume in an application of its own host computer 1200; and an
application configuration table creation unit 1218 for creating a
table in which information acquired by the application
configuration information acquisition unit 1217 is arranged. An
application configuration table 1280 (see FIG. 5) in the memory
1270 will be described later.
[0055] FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a storage apparatus
according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the storage apparatus
1300 includes; a disk unit 1310 for storing data therein; a disk
controller 1320 for controlling the storage apparatus 1300.
[0056] The disk unit 1310 includes a plurality of volumes 1311,
1312 and 1313. A volume used herein may be a physical volume such
as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a logical volume such as a logical
device. A type of the volume is not limited in the present
invention. For convenience of description, FIG. 4 shows three
volumes. In the present invention, however, the number of the
volumes is not limited to this. A volume can make a copy pair.
[0057] The disk controller 1320 includes a host interface 1328, a
remote interface 1326, a disk interface 1325, a memory 1321, a CPU
1323, a management interface 1322, and a local disk 1327.
[0058] The management interface 1322 is an interface to the
management network 1400 and sends and receives a data or a control
instruction to and from the management computer 1100. The local
disk 1327 is a disk unit connected to the disk controller 1320,
such as a hard disk and stores therein a storage microprogram
1330.
[0059] The storage microprogram 1330 is loaded into the memory 1321
in the disk controller 1320 and is executed by the CPU 1323. In
this embodiment, the storage microprogram 1330 is stored in the
local disk 1327 in the disk controller 1320. In the present
invention, however, a configuration is not limited to this. For
example, the programs and tables may be stored in a flash memory
provided in the disk controller 1320 or in any disk in the disk
unit 1310.
[0060] The storage microprogram 1330 receives instructions from the
unused volume information acquisition unit 1125 and the copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 in the management
computer 1100. Based on the instructions, the storage microprogram
1330 acquires a name of a site to which itself belongs and a usage
condition of a volume in its own storage apparatus and provides
controls on a copy pair. The usage condition of a volume includes
information on whether or not the volume is used by an application
or an OS (Operating System). An example of the controls of a copy
pair is creation of a copy pair. The copy pair configuration
definition table 1146 (see FIG. 8) in the memory 1321 is a table
representing information on the configuration definition of a copy
pair created by the management computer 1100. The storage apparatus
1300 executes a copy task using the information in the copy pair
configuration definition table 1324.
[0061] The host interface 1328 is an interface to the data network
1500 and sends and receives a data or control instruction to and
from the host computer 1200. The remote interface 1326 is an
interface to the remote network 1600 and transfers data in an
operation of a site-to-site remote copy. The disk interface 1325 is
an interface to the disk unit 1310 and sends and receives a data or
control instruction thereto and therefrom.
[0062] FIG. 5 shows an example of an application configuration
table 1280 stored in the host computer 1200 according to the first
embodiment. In FIG. 5, the application configuration table 1280
stored in the host computer 1200 includes an identifier of an
application 5100 and an identifier of a volume 5150 used by the
application. The application 5100 stores therein an identifier of
an application which is installed on the host computer 1200 and
uses a volume in the storage apparatus 1300. The volume 5150 used
by the application stores therein an identifier of a volume used by
the application shown at the application 5100. In this embodiment,
the application configuration information acquisition unit 1217
(see FIG. 3) can acquire information on an application from its own
host computer 1200.
[0063] Reference numerals 5010 to 5030 each indicate information on
a volume used by the application installed on the host computer
1200 at the primary site 1700 in the storage system shown in FIG.
1. More specifically, the reference numeral 5010 indicates that an
application referred to as AP1 uses only a volume referred to as
VOL1. The reference numeral 5020 indicates that an application
referred to as AP2 uses only a volume referred to as VOL2. The
reference numeral 5030 indicates that an application referred to as
AP3 uses two volumes referred to as VOL2 and VOL3. In other words,
the applications AP2 and AP3 share the volume VOL2.
[0064] FIG. 6 shows an example of an application configuration
table stored in the management computer 1100 according to the first
embodiment. In FIG. 6, the application configuration table 1142 in
the management computer 1100 includes respective identifiers of an
application 5300, a site 5350, a host 5400, and a volume 5450 used
by the application. The application 5300 stores therein an
identifier of an application. The site 5350 stores therein an
identifier of a site to which the application shown in the
application 5300 belongs. The application 5400 stores therein an
identifier of a host in which the application shown at the
application 5300 is in operation. The volume 5450 used by the
application stores therein an identifier of a used volume of the
application shown at the application 5300.
[0065] The application configuration information acquisition unit
1122 (see FIG. 2) acquires information included in the application
configuration table 1142 from the host computer 1200 shown in FIG.
1. In this embodiment, the storage system has two sites, namely,
the primary site 1700 and the remote site 1800. The application
configuration information acquisition unit 1122 collects the
application configuration table 1280 (see FIG. 3) from the host
computer 1200 at the each site and creates the application
configuration table 1142 from the application configuration table
1280.
[0066] Reference numerals 5210 to 5230 each indicate information on
an application present in the host computer 1200 at the primary
site 1700 and the remote site 1800 in the storage system shown in
FIG. 1.
[0067] More specifically, the reference numeral 5210 indicates that
the application referred to as AP1 belongs to a site referred to as
Site A, operates in the host computer 1200 referred to as Host A,
and uses only a volume referred to as VOL1. The reference numeral
5220 indicates that the application referred to as AP2 belongs to a
site referred to as Site A, operates in the host computer 1200
referred to as Host A, and uses only the volume referred to as
VOL2. The reference numeral 5230 indicates that the application
referred to as AP3 belongs to a site referred to as Site A,
operates in the host computer 1200 referred to as Host A, and uses
the two volumes referred to as VOL2 and VOL3. In other words, the
applications AP2 and AP3 share the volume VOL2.
[0068] FIG. 7A shows an example of a volume configuration table
1144A at the primary site 1700 (see FIG. 1) in the management
computer 1100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7B shows an
example of a volume configuration table 1144B at the remote site
1800 (see FIG. 1) in the management computer 1100 according to the
first embodiment. The site volume configuration table 1144 (see
FIG. 2) in the management computer 1100 includes the primary site
volume configuration table 1144A and the remote site volume
configuration table 1144B.
[0069] In FIG. 7A, the primary site volume configuration table
1144A includes respective identifiers at a primary site volume 5600
and of an application 5700 which is using a volume. The primary
site volume 5600 stores therein an identifier of a volume present
at the primary site 1700. The application 5700 which is using a
volume stores therein an identifier of an application using the
volume shown at the primary site volume 5600. The site volume
configuration table creation unit 1126 (see FIG. 2) acquires
information on the volume used by an application from the
application configuration table 1142 and also acquires information
on a volume not used by an application from the unused volume
information acquisition unit 1125. The management computer 1100 can
acquire information on all volumes at the primary site 1700.
[0070] Reference numerals 5510 to 5540 each indicate information on
a volume present in the storage apparatus 1300 at the primary site
1700 in the storage system shown in FIG. 1.
[0071] More specifically, the reference numeral 5510 indicates that
the volume referred to as VOL1 is used by an application referred
to as AP1. The reference numeral 5520 indicates that the volume
referred to as VOL2 is used by applications referred to as AP2 and
AP3. In other words, the applications AP2 and AP3 share the volume
VOL2. The reference numeral 5530 indicates that a volume referred
to as VOL3 is used by an application referred to as AP3. The
reference numeral 5540 indicates that a volume referred to as VOL4
is not used by any application.
[0072] In FIG. 7B, the remote site volume configuration table 1144B
includes respective identifiers of a remote site volume 6100 and of
an application 6200 which is using a volume. The remote site volume
6100 stores therein an identifier of a volume present at the remote
site 1800. The application 6200 which is using a volume stores
therein an identifier of an application using the volume shown at
the remote site volume 6100.
[0073] Similarly to the primary site volume configuration table
1144A of FIG. 7A, the site volume configuration table creation unit
1126 (see FIG. 2) acquires information on a volume used by an
application from the application configuration table 1142 and also
acquires information on a volume not used by an application from
the unused volume information acquisition unit 1125. In this
embodiment, the remote site 1800 is assumed to be a site prepared
as a copy destination, and thus, any volume in the remote site 1800
is not used. In the present invention, however, even if an
application is running at a site and if the site still has a
necessary and sufficient unused volume, the site may be set as a
remote site. Therefore, whether or not an application is running at
a site does not make any difference.
[0074] Reference numerals 6010 to 6040 each indicate information on
a volume present in the storage apparatus 1300 at the remote site
1800 in the storage system shown in FIG. 1. The reference numerals
6010, 6020, 6030 and 6040 indicate that the volumes referred to as
VOL1, VOL2, VOL3 and VOL4 are unused, respectively.
[0075] FIG. 8 shows an example of a copy pair configuration
definition table 1146 stored in the management computer 1100 and
the storage apparatus 1300 according to the first embodiment. The
copy pair configuration definition table 1146 of FIG. 8 is both in
the management computer 1100 and the storage apparatus 1300. In the
storage system in FIG. 1, respective storage apparatuses 1300 at
the primary site 1700 and the remote site 1800 have respective copy
pair configuration definition tables 1146.
[0076] The copy pair configuration definition table 1146 includes
respective identifiers of a primary site copy source volume 6850
and of a remote site copy destination volume 6900. The primary site
copy source volume 6850 stores therein an identifier of a copy
source volume. The remote site copy destination volume 6900 stores
therein an identifier of a volume to make a copy pair with the
volume shown at the primary site copy source volume 6850. The copy
pair configuration definition creation unit 1129 (see FIG. 2)
determines a copy source volume and a copy destination volume
according to an operation performed by a user and creates the copy
pair configuration definition table 1146. The present invention can
be carried out in another configuration in which only the
management computer 1100 includes the copy pair configuration
definition table 1146; the management computer 1100 sends
information only on a copy source volume to the primary site 1700
and sends information only on a copy destination volume to the
remote site 1800; and communication between the primary site 1700
and the remote site 1800 allows an operation of creating a copy
pair to be conducted.
[0077] Reference numerals 6802 to 6808 each indicate configuration
definition information on a copy pair in the storage system shown
in FIG. 1. The reference numeral 6802 indicates that a volume
referred to as VOL1 and a volume referred to as VOL10 make a copy
pair. The reference numeral 6804 indicates that a volume referred
to as VOL2 and volumes referred to as VOL11 and VOL12 make a copy
pair. The reference numeral 6806 indicates that volumes referred to
as VOL3 and VOL4 and a volume referred to as VOL13 make a copy
pair. The reference numeral 6808 indicates that volumes referred to
as VOL5 and VOL6 and volumes referred to as VOL14 and VOL15 make a
copy pair.
[0078] FIG. 9 shows an example of a GUI according to the first
embodiment. The copy pair create window 7000 is an example of a
display to realize this embodiment. The copy pair create window
7000 includes a copy type select window 7200, a copy source specify
window 7300, a copy destination specify window 7700, and an OK
button 7900.
[0079] The copy type select window 7200 is a window for selecting a
copy type. A drop-down list 7240 displays available copy types. In
this embodiment, the available copy types include, as an example, a
synchronous copy and an asynchronous copy. Upon a user's selection
of the copy type from the drop-down list 7240, the copy type of a
copy pair to be made is determined.
[0080] The copy source specify window 7300 is a window for
selecting an application as a copy source. The copy source specify
window 7300 includes a copy source site specify window 7400 and a
copy source application specify window 7500.
[0081] The copy source site specify window 7400 in the copy source
specify window 7300 is a window for selecting a site as a copy
source. A drop-down list 7420 displays sites at the site 5350 in
the application configuration table 1142 shown in FIG. 6, as a
candidate copy source. A select button 7430 is a button for
determining a site selected from the drop-down list 7420 as a copy
source site. A text box 7450 displays a name of the site selected
from the drop-down list 7420 with the select button 7430.
[0082] A copy source application specify window 7500 in the copy
source specify window 7300 is a window for specifying an
application as a copy source. A drop-down list 7520 displays an
application at the site displayed in the text box 7450. Such an
application is acquired from the application 5700 which is using a
volume in the primary site volume configuration table 1144A shown
in FIG. 7A. An add button 7530 is a button for adding an
application selected from the drop-down list 7520 as a copy source
application. A text box 7550 displays a name of the application
selected from the drop-down list 7520 with the add button 7530.
[0083] The copy destination specify window 7700 is a window for
specifying a site as a copy destination. A drop-down list 7720
displays a name of a site as shown in the configuration of FIG. 1.
The name of a site is acquired from the management program 1120
(see FIG. 2) in the management computer 1100. A select button 7730
is a button for determining the site selected from the drop-down
list 7720 as a copy destination site. A text box 7750 displays the
site name selected from the drop-down list 7720 with the select
button 7730.
[0084] The OK button 7900 is a button for determining creation of a
copy pair configuration definition with the application shown in
the text box 7550 as a copy source and the site shown in the text
box 7750 as a copy destination.
[0085] Below are described step-by-step operations for creating a
copy pair configuration definition which are performed by a user
using the GUI as shown in FIG. 9. First, the user specifies a site
as a copy source and selects one or more applications constituting
the task as a copy source. More specifically, the user selects the
site as a copy source from the drop-down list 7420 and clicks the
select button 7430, to thereby determine the copy source site. The
determined copy source site is displayed in the text box 7450.
[0086] Next, an application as a copy source is determined. The
user selects an application as a copy source from the drop-down
list 7520 in which an application at a site displayed in the text
box 7450 is displayed and clicks the add button 7530, to thereby
select the copy source application. The determined copy source
application is displayed in the text box 7550. If the user wants to
add another copy source application, the user once again selects a
desired application from the drop-down list 7520 and clicks the add
button 7530, to thereby add another copy source application.
[0087] Next, a site as a copy destination is specified. The user
selects a site as a copy destination from the drop-down list 7720
and clicks the select button 7730, to thereby determine the copy
destination site. The determined copy destination site is displayed
in the text box 7750.
[0088] Finally, the user clicks the OK button 7900. This operation
creates a copy pair configuration definition in which the
application shown in the text box 7550 is the copy source
application, and the site shown in the text box 7750 is the copy
destination site.
[0089] FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of copy pair configuration
definition creation according to the first embodiment. The
processing of copy pair configuration definition creation in the
management program 1120 in the management computer 1100 is
performed by the application configuration information acquisition
unit 1122, application configuration table creation unit 1124,
unused volume information acquisition unit 1125, site volume
configuration table creation unit 1126, GUI display unit 1127, and
copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129.
[0090] The processing starts at step S6500. In step S6510, the
application configuration information acquisition unit 1122
acquires configuration information on an application at each site.
More specifically, the application configuration information
acquisition unit 1122 requests the application configuration
information acquisition unit 1217 in the host computer 1200 to
acquire the application configuration table 1280 in which
information on an application in the host computer 1200 is
managed.
[0091] In step S6520, the application configuration table creation
unit 1124 creates the application configuration table 1142 in which
the received application configuration table 1280 is arranged with
information on a site to which an application of interest belongs
and information on a host in which the application is in
operation.
[0092] In step S6525, the unused volume information acquisition
unit 1125 requests the storage microprogram 1330 in the storage
apparatus 1300 to acquire a name of a site connected to the
management computer 1100 and a usage condition of a volume at the
site. That is, the unused volume information acquisition unit 1125
acquires information on an unused volume at the site.
[0093] In step S6530, the site volume configuration table creation
unit 1126 creates the site volume configuration table 1144 using
the application configuration table 1142 created in step S6520 and
the usage condition in the storage system received in step
S6525.
[0094] In step S6535, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 determines the copy type specified by the user
and acquired via the GUI display unit 1127. In step S6540, the GUI
display unit 1127 displays a list of the sites included in the
configuration shown in FIG. 1 to the user. The copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 determines a site
specified by the user as a copy source site.
[0095] In step S6550, the GUI display unit 1127 displays, to the
user, an application at the site determined by the copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 in step S6540. The copy
pair configuration definition creation unit 1129 determines an
application specified by the user from among applications at the
site as a copy source application. Generally, the replication as
described above is performed by a task as a unit, and the task is
typically configured by a plurality of applications. Thus, a
plurality of applications can be specified as a copy source
herein.
[0096] In step S6560, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 references the site volume configuration table
1144 created in step S6530. In step S6570, the copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 selects a volume used
by the application determined in step S6550 without duplication. In
step S6580, the copy pair configuration definition creation unit
1129 determines the volume selected in step S6570 as a copy source
volume. More specifically, if a group constituted by a plurality of
applications (for example, AP1,AP2,AP3) to be copied is specified
from the copy pair create window 7000 displayed by the GUI display
unit 1127, the copy pair configuration definition creation unit
1129 selects, without duplication, volumes (for example,
VOL1,VOL2,VOL3) used by the specified group based on the volume
configuration information and determines the volumes as copy source
volumes. Note that VOL2 is used in both AP2 and AP3, however, is
selected only once without duplication.
[0097] In step S6590, the GUI display unit 1127 displays the sites
included in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 to the user. The copy
pair configuration definition creation unit 1129 determines a site
specified by the user from the displayed sites as a copy
destination.
[0098] In step S6600, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 references the volume configuration table 1144
created in step S6530. In step S6610, the copy pair configuration
definition creation unit 1129 determines whether or not there is a
volume having a capacity equal to or more than a capacity of the
copy source volume determined in step S6580, at the site determined
in step S6590.
[0099] In step S6620, if there is a volume having a capacity equal
to or more than a capacity of the copy source volume determined in
step S6580, at the site determined in step S6590 (Yes in step
S6610), the copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129
determines the volume as a copy destination volume.
[0100] In step S6590, if there is not a volume having a capacity
equal to or more than a capacity of the copy source volume
determined in step S6580, at the site determined in step S6590 (No
in step S6610), the GUI display unit 1127 again displays the sites
included in the configuration of FIG. 1 to the user. The copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 determines a site
specified by the user from among the displayed sites as a copy
destination. If an unused volume is not determined at all copy
destination sites, the GUI display unit 1127 may make the display
unit 1170 display a message warning that a sufficient capacity of
an unused volume in the copy destination is not found.
[0101] In step S6630, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 creates a copy pair configuration definition in
which the volume determined in step S6580 is the copy source, and
the volume determined in step S6620 is the copy destination. In
step S6640, the processing of copy pair configuration definition
creation terminates.
Second Embodiment
[0102] The first embodiment has described that a copy pair is
created from among a plurality of applications constituting a task,
by the task as a unit. A second embodiment describes that a copy
pair is created among a plurality of applications in a cluster
configuration.
[0103] The cluster configuration shown in the second embodiment
realizes a high-level availability in which, if a host computer in
which an application is performing a processing has a trouble,
another application same as the former on standby in another host
computer can take over the processing. In such a configuration, the
same applications exist in different host computers. Such
applications share a same volume. Note that, in some cases, the
cluster configuration has a purpose of load balancing in which a
same application operates in each of different host computers so as
to distribute a processing across the different host computers.
However, the purpose of the cluster configuration is not herein
considered in particular.
[0104] The second embodiment assumes that, for example, if a
plurality of applications have a cluster configuration in two
different host computers, the applications in the cluster
configuration use a same volume. If such applications are specified
as a copy source, a volume as a copy source can be selected without
duplication.
[0105] The second embodiment as a variation of the first embodiment
describes that, even if applications as a copy source have a
cluster configuration, a copy pair configuration definition can be
created without duplication. A configuration of a storage system in
the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, which is the
same as the configuration in the first embodiment.
[0106] FIG. 11 shows an example of an application configuration
table 1142A stored in the management computer 1100 according to the
second embodiment. The application configuration table 1142A of
FIG. 11 shows a case where an application having a cluster
configuration is present in the storage system. Below is described
the application configuration table 1142A, focusing on a difference
from the application configuration table 1142 shown in FIG. 6 in
the first embodiment. The application configuration table 1142A
includes respective identifiers of the application 5300, site 5350,
host 5400, and volume 5450 used by the application. A configuration
of the application configuration table 1142A is same as that of
application configuration table 1142 in the management computer
1100 in the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment,
the application 5300 of the application configuration table 1142A
has the identifiers of the applications having a cluster
configuration. The applications in the cluster configuration use a
same volume.
[0107] Reference numerals 5211 to 5231 indicate information on
applications present in the host computer 1200 at the primary site
1700 and the remote site 1800, if the storage system having the
configuration shown in FIG. 1 has applications in a cluster
configuration. The reference numeral 5211 indicates that an
application AP1 belongs to a site referred to as Site A, runs in a
host computer Host A, and uses only a volume VOL1. The reference
numeral 5221 indicates that an application AP2 belongs to the site
Site A, runs in the host computer Host A, and uses only a volume
VOL2.
[0108] The reference numeral 5231 indicates that the application
AP2 belongs to Site A, runs in Host A, and uses only VOL2. That is,
AP2 has a cluster configuration in the two different host
computers, Host A and Host B.
[0109] FIG. 12 shows an example of a cluster configuration table
8300 according to the second embodiment. The cluster configuration
table 8300 is a table constituting the application configuration
table 1280 in the host computer 1200. The cluster configuration
table 8300 includes respective identifiers of an application 8350,
Active 8400, and Stand-by 8500. The application 8350 stores therein
an identifier of an application having the cluster configuration.
The Active 8400 stores therein an identifier of a host computer in
operation among the host computers in which the application shown
at the application 8350 is present. The Stand-by 8500 stores
therein an identifier of a host computer on standby among the host
computers in which the application shown at the application 8350 is
present. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the application
configuration information acquisition unit 1217 in the agent
program 1216 acquires information on a cluster configuration from
an application in a host computer to which the application
configuration information acquisition unit 1217 belongs.
[0110] Reference numerals 8310 to 8320 indicate information on the
applications having a cluster configuration in the host computer
1200 in the storage system shown in FIG. 1. The reference numeral
8310 indicates that the application AP2 has a cluster
configuration, the application shown at the Active 8400 is in the
host computer referred to as Host A, and the application shown at
the Stand-by 8500 is in the host computer Host B. The reference
numeral 8320 indicates that an application AP3 has a cluster
configuration, the application shown at the Active 8400 is in a
host computer Host C, and the application shown at the Stand-by
8500 is in a host computer Host D.
[0111] Next is described a processing of a copy pair configuration
definition according to the second embodiment, with reference to
FIG. 10. Herein is described only a difference from the processing
of a copy pair configuration definition according to the first
embodiment. In step S6510, the application configuration
information acquisition unit 1122 in the management computer 1100
requests the application configuration information acquisition unit
1217 in the host computer 1200 to acquire the application
configuration table 1280 and the cluster configuration table
8300.
[0112] In step S6550, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 references the cluster configuration table 8300
acquired from the host computer 1200. The GUI display unit 1127
displays only an application at the Active 8400 among applications
in a cluster configuration. Typically, a user knows which
applications have a cluster configuration. Further, the
applications in the cluster configuration use a same volume. Thus,
the user has to do is only to specify an application currently in
operation as a copy source.
[0113] In this embodiment, if the user specifies an application
having the cluster configuration as a copy source, the user can
determine a volume as the copy source without particularly
identifying the cluster configuration of the applications. For
convenience of description, the application at the Active 8400 is
displayed herein. However, any one of the applications in the
cluster configuration may be displayed. Therefore, the application
displayed to the user may be any at the Active 8400 or the Stand-by
8500 in the present invention. In this embodiment, the cluster
configuration table 8300 is separately provided from the
application configuration table 1142A constituting the management
table 1140. However, a table in which the cluster configuration
table 8300 is combined with the application configuration table
1142A may be provided.
[0114] With the processing described above, even if a copy source
application has a cluster configuration, the copy pair
configuration definition can be created without duplication or
incompatibility.
Third Embodiment
[0115] The present invention can be applied even if an application
is constituted by a plurality of sub-applications. Herein, the
application constituted by a plurality of sub-applications is
referred to as a composite application. In other words, the
composite application is a group constituted by a plurality of
sub-applications. In a third embodiment, the composite application
may include an application for integrating and managing a plurality
of sub-applications such as an ERP (enterprise resource planning)
package. In the present invention, if a composite application is
specified as a copy source, a volume as the copy source can be
selected without duplication. Below is described this embodiment
focusing on a difference from the first embodiment. The
configuration of a storage system in the third embodiment is shown
in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, which is the same as the configuration
described in the first embodiment.
[0116] FIG. 13 shows an example of a composite application
configuration table 8600 according to the third embodiment. The
composite application configuration table 8600 is a table
constituting the application configuration table 1280 in the host
computer 1200 in this embodiment. The composite application
configuration table 8600 shows a configuration of a composite
application and includes respective identifiers of a composite
application 8700 and of a configuration application 8800. The
composite application 8700 stores therein an identifier of a
composite application which is present in its own host computer
1200. The configuration application 8800 stores therein an
identifier of an application constituting the application shown of
the composite application 8700. In the present embodiment, the
application configuration information acquisition unit 1217 is
assumed to acquire information on a configuration of a composite
application from an application in its own host computer 1200.
[0117] Reference numerals 8610 and 8620 indicate information on a
composite application in the host computer 1200 in the storage
system shown in FIG. 1. The reference numeral 8610 indicates that
an application ERP1 is configured by sub-applications AP1, AP3 and
AP5. That is, the application ERP1 uses volumes used by the
sub-applications AP1, AP3 and AP5. The reference numeral 8620
indicates that an application ERP2 is configured by
sub-applications AP2 and AP4. That is, the application ERP2 uses
volumes used by the sub-applications AP2 and AP4.
[0118] FIG. 14 shows an example of a GUI according to the third
embodiment. Next is described a difference between a copy pair
create window 9000 of FIG. 14 in this embodiment and the copy pair
create window 7000 of FIG. 9 in the first embodiment. The copy pair
create window 9000 includes the copy type select window 7200, a
copy source specify window 9300, the copy destination specify
window 7700, and the OK button 7900. The copy type select window
7200 and the copy destination specify window 7700 are configured
same as those of the copy pair create window 7000 shown in FIG. 9.
Thus, only the copy source specify window 9300 is described in
detail below.
[0119] The copy source specify window 9300 is a window for
selecting an application as a copy source. The copy source specify
window 9300 includes the copy source site specify window 7400, a
copy source composite application specify window 9500, and a copy
source general application specify window 9600. The copy source
site specify window 7400 is configured same as that of the copy
pair create window 7000 of FIG. 9. Thus, the copy source composite
application specify window 9500 and copy source general application
specify window 9600 are described below.
[0120] The copy source composite application specify window 9500 in
the copy source specify window 9300 is a window for specifying a
composite application as a copy source. A drop-down list 9520
displays a composite application included in a site displayed in
the text box 7450. Note that the drop-down list 9520 also displays
a sub-application constituting the composite application. However,
such a sub-application (for example, AP1, AP3 and AP2) may
preferably not be selected directly from the text box 7450. An add
button 9530 is a button for adding the composite application
selected from the drop-down list 9520 as a copy source composite
application. A text box 9550 displays the name of the composite
application selected from the drop-down list 9520 with the add
button 9530.
[0121] The copy source general application specify window 9600 in
the copy source specify window 9300 is a window for specifying a
general application, that is, a non-composite application, as a
copy source. A drop-down list 9620 indicates a general application
at a site displayed in the text box 7450. Note that the drop-down
list 9620 does not display a composite application displayed in the
drop-down list 9520. An add button 9630 is a button for adding the
general application selected from the drop-down list 9620 as a copy
source general application. A text box 9650 displays the name of
the general application selected from the drop-down list 9620 with
the add button 9630.
[0122] The OK button 7900 is a button for determining creation of a
copy pair configuration definition. If the user clicks the OK
button 7900, the management program 1120 creates the copy pair
configuration definition in which an application shown in the text
box 9550 and the text box 9650 is the copy source and a site shown
in the text box 7750 is the copy destination.
[0123] Below are described step-by-step operations for creating a
copy pair configuration definition which are performed by a user
using the GUI of FIG. 14, while focusing on a difference from the
operations using the GUI of FIG. 9. First, a task as a copy source
is determined. The user specifies a site as a copy source and then
selects one or more applications constituting the task as the copy
source. The operations of selecting the copy source site are the
same as those shown in FIG. 10.
[0124] Next is determined a composite application as the copy
source. The user selects a composite application as the copy source
from the drop-down list 9520 in which composite applications at a
site displayed in the text box 7450 are displayed and clicks the
add button 9530, to thereby select the copy source composite
application. The application determined as the copy source
composite application is then displayed in the text box 9550. If
the user wants to add another composite application as the copy
source, the user once again selects a desired composite application
from the drop-down list 9520 and clicks the add button 9530, to
thereby add another application as a copy source.
[0125] Next is specified a site as a copy destination. The user
selects a copy destination site from the drop-down list 7720 and
clicks the select button 7730, to thereby determine the copy
destination site. The determined copy destination site is displayed
in the text box 7750. Next is determined a general application as a
copy source. The user selects a general application as a copy
source from the drop-down list 9620 in which general applications
at a site displayed in the text box are displayed and clicks the
add button 9630, to thereby determine the copy source general
application. The determined copy source general application is
displayed in the text box 9650. If the user wants to add another
general application as the copy source, the user once again selects
a desired general application from the drop-down list 9620 and
clicks the add button 9630, to thereby add another copy source
general application.
[0126] Then the copy destination site is specified with the same
operations as those of FIG. 9. Finally, the user clicks the OK
button 7900. This operation creates the copy pair configuration
definition in which the application shown in the text box 9550 and
the text box 9650 is the copy source and the site shown in the text
box 7750 is the copy destination. In this embodiment, the composite
application configuration table 8600 is separately provided from
the application configuration table 1142 constituting the
management table 1140. However, a table in which the composite
application configuration table 8600 is combined with the
application configuration table 1142 may be provided.
[0127] Next is described a flow of the processing in this
embodiment with reference to FIG. 10. Herein is described only a
difference from the processing shown in FIG. 10 in the first
embodiment. In step S6510, the application configuration
information acquisition unit 1122 in the management computer 1100
requests the application configuration information acquisition unit
1217 in the host computer 1200 according to the configuration shown
in FIG. 1 to acquire the application configuration table 1280 and
the composite application configuration table 8600.
[0128] In step S6550, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 references the composite application
configuration table 8600 acquired from the host computer 1200. The
GUI display unit 1127 displays a composite application (for
example, see the drop-down list 9520 in FIG. 14) to the user. This
operation can prevent the user from selecting a composite
application as a copy source and copying a same volume in
duplicate. Note that a general non-composite application is
displayed to the user as in the first embodiment (for example, see
the drop-down list 9620 in FIG. 14).
[0129] In this embodiment, even if the user specifies a composite
application as a copy source, the user can determine a volume as a
copy source without particularly specifying that the composite
application is constituted by a plurality of sub-applications. For
convenience of description, the plurality of sub-applications
constituting the composite application are displayed but would not
be selected. However, what is only necessary herein is to select a
volume of a composite application without duplication, using
information on the composite application. Therefore, any form of a
display of the composite application to the user is available.
[0130] The processing described above allows to create the copy
pair configuration definition without duplication or
incompatibility even if an application as a copy source is a
composite application.
Fourth Embodiment
[0131] A fourth embodiment describes that the present invention can
be applied in a server virtualization environment. A technique of
server virtualization can realize one more virtual servers (or VMs:
virtual machines) on one or more physical servers. The technique of
server virtualization has been widely spread in recent years.
[0132] One of the characteristics of the technique of server
virtualization is that a server virtualization program manages OS
image, configuration information of a VM and its associated data.
In some cases, all the data described above is managed as a single
file. The configuration information includes information necessary
for the VM to operate, such as, for example, the number of
processors in a physical server, a memory size, and an operation
rate of I/O processing capacity. Such characteristics of the
technique of server virtualization allow a resource of a physical
server to be used effectively, leading to an advantageous effect on
reduction of cost in hardware and its management.
[0133] The server virtualization environment in this embodiment
means an environment in which a server virtualization program is
operated in a host computer, and a plurality of VMs can be operated
on the program. In this embodiment, one application operates in one
VM. However, any number of applications may operate in the present
invention.
[0134] A configuration of a storage system according to this
embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 (general configuration), FIG. 4
(storage apparatus 1300), FIG. 15 (management computer 1100), FIG.
16 (host computer 1200), and FIG. 17 (the volume 1311 in the
storage apparatus 1300). The configurations shown in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 4 in this embodiment are the same as those in the first
embodiment. Next is described the storage system according to this
embodiment, focusing on a difference from that according to the
first embodiment.
[0135] FIG. 15 shows the configuration of the management computer
1100 in the fourth embodiment. The management computer 1100 in FIG.
15 has a same physical configuration as that of the management
computer 1100 in FIG. 2. However, a processings performed by the
management program 1120, and the management table 1140 in the
memory 1270 according to this embodiment are different from those
according to the first embodiment.
[0136] The management program 1120 includes a VM configuration
information acquisition unit 9910, a VM configuration table
creation unit 9912, the unused volume information acquisition unit
1125, a site volume configuration table creation unit 9915, the GUI
display unit 1127, and the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129. The unused volume information acquisition unit
1125, GUI display unit 1127, and copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 have same configurations as those in the first
embodiment. The VM configuration information acquisition unit 9910
acquires information on a volume used by a VM in the host computer
1200 at each site. The VM configuration table creation unit 9912
creates a VM configuration table 9920 (see FIG. 19) in which the
information acquired by the VM configuration information
acquisition unit 9910 is arranged. The site volume configuration
table creation unit 9915 creates a site volume configuration table
9924 (see FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B) based on the VM configuration
table 9920 created by the VM configuration table creation unit 9912
and the information acquired by the unused volume information
acquisition unit 1125.
[0137] FIG. 16 shows a configuration of the host computer 1200 in
the fourth embodiment. The host computer 1200 in FIG. 16 has a same
physical configuration as that of the management computer 1200 in
FIG. 3. However, data in the local disk 1210 and a table in the
memory 1270 in this embodiment are different from those in the
first embodiment.
[0138] The local disk 1210 is a disk unit connected to the host
computer 1200, such as a hard disk drive and stores therein a
server virtualization program 9940. The server virtualization
program 9940 is loaded into the memory 1270 of the host computer
1200 and is executed by the CPU 1220. The server virtualization
program 9940 is a program for acquiring information on an
application operating on the host computer 1200 and a VM, based on
instructions from the VM configuration information acquisition unit
9910 in the management computer 1100. The host computer 1200
executes the server virtualization program 9940, to thereby make a
VM and an application stored in the storage apparatus 1300
connected to the host computer 1200 execute. The VM configuration
table 9950 in the memory 1270 will be described later.
[0139] FIG. 17 shows a configuration of the volume 1311 in the
storage apparatus 1300 according to the fourth embodiment. The
volume 1311 in FIG. 17 corresponds to the volume 1311 in FIG. 4 in
the disk unit 1310 of the storage apparatus 1300. The volume 1311
in FIG. 17 includes an application 9960, VM information 9965, and a
data 9970. The VM information 9965 includes an OS image and
configuration information. The data 9970 is used by the application
9960 or the like. For convenience of description, FIG. 17 shows
that the single volume 1311 has one unit of the application 9960,
VM information 9965, and a data 9970. However, a volume used by a
VM may be a plurality of volumes. Or, an application, a VM, and a
data may be stored in a plurality of volumes distributedly.
[0140] The application 9960 and the VM information 9965 are loaded
into the memory 1270 in the host computer 1200 and are executed by
the CPU 1220. The application 9960 and the VM information 9965 are
a program and information each for executing a processing by
reading and writing the data 9970 in the volume 1311 in the storage
apparatus 1300.
[0141] FIG. 18 shows an example of the VM configuration table 9950
in the host computer 1200 in the fourth embodiment. The VM
configuration table 9950 in the host computer 1200 at each site
shown in FIG. 18 includes respective identifiers of a VM 9980 and a
volume 9985 used by the VM. The VM 9980 stores therein an
identifier of a VM which is operating in its host computer 1200 and
is using a volume in the storage apparatus 1300. The volume 9985
used by the VM stores therein an identifier of a volume used by the
VM shown in the VM 9980. In this embodiment, the server
virtualization program 9940 can acquire information on the VM which
is operating in its host computer 1200.
[0142] Reference numerals 9976 to 9978 indicate information on a
volume used by a VM which operates in the host computer 1200 at the
primary site 1700 in the storage system shown in FIG. 1. The
reference numeral 9976 indicates that a VM referred to as VM1 uses
only a volume referred to as VOL1. The reference numeral 9977
indicates that a VM referred to as VM2 uses only a volume referred
to as VOL2. The reference numeral 9978 indicates that a VM referred
to as VM3 uses two volumes referred to as VOL2 and VOL3. That is,
VM2 and VM3 share VOL2.
[0143] FIG. 19 shows an example of the VM configuration table 9920
in the management computer 1100 according to the fourth embodiment.
The VM configuration table 9920 in the management computer 1100
includes respective identifiers of a VM 9995, a site 10000, a host
10005, and a volume 10010 used by the VM. The VM 9995 stores an
identifier of a VM. The site 10000 stores an identifier of a site
to which the VM shown at the VM 9995 belongs. The host 10005 stores
an identifier of a host in which the VM shown at the VM 9995 is
operating. The volume used by the VM 10100 stores an identifier of
a used volume of the VM shown at the VM 9995. Information
constituting the VM configuration table 9920 is acquired by the VM
configuration information acquisition unit 9910 in the management
computer 1100 from the host computer 1200 in the configuration as
shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, it is assumed that there are
two sites, the primary site 1700 and the remote site 1800. The VM
configuration information acquisition unit 9910 acquires the VM
configuration table 9975 in the host computer 1200 at each site and
creates the VM configuration table 9920 from the acquired VM
configuration table 9975.
[0144] Reference numerals 9991 to 9993 indicate information on a VM
in the host computer 1200 at the primary site 1700 and the remote
site 1800 in the storage system having the configuration shown in
FIG. 1. The reference numeral 9991 indicates that a VM referred to
as the VM1 belongs to a site referred to as Site A, operates in the
host computer 1200 referred to as Host A, and uses only a volume
referred to as VOL1. The reference numeral 9992 indicates that a VM
referred to as VM2 belongs to a site referred to as Site A,
operates in the host computer 1200 referred to as Host A, and uses
only a volume referred to as VOL2. The reference numeral 9993
indicates that a VM referred to as VM3 belongs to a site referred
to as Site A, operates in the host computer 1200 referred to as
Host A, and uses two volumes referred to as VOL2 and VOL3. That is,
VM2 and VM3 share VOL2.
[0145] FIG. 20A shows an example of the primary site volume
configuration table 9924A stored in the management computer 1100
according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 20B shows an example of
the remote site volume configuration table 9924B stored in the
management computer 1100. The primary site volume configuration
table 9924A and the remote site volume configuration table 9924B
are tables constituting the volume configuration table 9924 at each
site in this embodiment. In FIG. 20A, the primary site volume
configuration table 9924A includes respective identifiers of the
primary site volume 5600 and of a VM 10200 which is using a volume.
The primary site volume 5600 stores therein an identifier of a
volume present at the primary site 1700. The VM 10200 which is
using a volume stores therein an identifier of a VM using a volume
shown at the primary site volume 5600. The site volume
configuration table creation unit 9915 acquires information on a
volume used by the VM from the VM configuration table 9920 and also
acquires information on a volume not used by the VM from the unused
volume information acquisition unit 1125. This enables the
management computer 1100 to acquire information on all the volumes
at the primary site 1700.
[0146] Reference numerals 10210 to 10240 each indicate information
on a volume present in the storage apparatus 1300 at the primary
site 1700 in the storage system having the configuration shown in
FIG. 1. The reference numeral 10210 indicates that a volume
referred to as VOL1 is used by a VM referred to as VM1. The
reference numeral 10220 indicates that a volume referred to as VOL2
is used by two VMs referred to as VM2 and VM3. That is, VM2 and VM3
share VOL2. The reference numeral 10230 indicates that a volume
referred to as VOL3 is used by a VM referred to as VM3. The
reference numeral 10240 indicates that a volume referred to as VOL4
is an unused volume.
[0147] In FIG. 20B, the remote site volume configuration table
9924B includes respective identifiers of a remote site volume 6100
and a volume using VM 10700. The remote site volume 6100 stores
therein a volume present at the remote site 1800. The volume using
VM 10700 stores therein a VM using a volume shown at the remote
site volume 6100. Similarly to the primary site volume
configuration table 9924A of FIG. 20A, the site volume
configuration table creation unit 9915 acquires information on a
volume used by the VM from the VM configuration table 9920 and also
acquires information on a volume used by the VM from the unused
volume information acquisition unit 1125. In this embodiment, it is
assumed that the remote site 1800 is a site to be used as a copy
destination. Thus, any volume at the remote site 1800 is unused. In
the present invention, however, any site having a necessary and
sufficient unused volume may be set as a copy destination, whether
or not a VM is running at the site of interest.
[0148] Reference numerals 10510 to 10540 each indicate information
on a volume present in the storage apparatus 1300 at the remote
site 1800 in the storage system having the configuration shown in
FIG. 1. Reference numerals 10510, 10520, 10530 and 10540 indicate
that the volumes VOL1, VOL2, VOL3 and VOL4 are unused,
respectively.
[0149] FIG. 21 shows an example of the GUI according to the fourth
embodiment. Herein is described only a difference between the copy
pair create window 11000 in FIG. 21 and the copy pair create window
7000 in FIG. 9. The copy pair create window 11000 includes the copy
type select window 7200, a copy source specify window 11300, the
copy destination specify window 7700, and the OK button 7900. The
copy type select window 7200 and the copy destination specify
window 7700 are configured same as those in the copy pair create
window 7000 shown in FIG. 9. Thus, only the copy source specify
window 11300 is described below in detail.
[0150] The copy source specify window 11300 is a window for
selecting a VM as a copy source. The copy source specify window
11300 includes the copy source site specify window 7400 and a copy
source VM specify window 11500. The copy source site specify window
7400 is configured same as the copy pair create window 7000 shown
in FIG. 9. Thus only the copy source VM specify window 11500 is
described below.
[0151] The copy source VM specify window 11500 in the copy source
specify window 11300 is a window for specifying a VM as a copy
source. A drop-down list 11520 displays a VM at a site displayed in
the text box 7450. An add button 11530 is a button for adding the
VM selected from the drop-down list 11520 as a copy source VM. A
text box 11550 displays the name of the copy source VM selected
from the drop-down list 11520 with the add button 11530.
[0152] Below are described step-by-step operations for creating a
copy pair configuration definition in this embodiment, showing a
difference from the operations according to the first embodiment
shown in FIG. 9. First, a task of a copy source is determined. A
user specifies a site as a copy source and selects a VM
constituting the task as a copy source. The operations of selecting
the copy source site are the same as those shown in FIG. 9.
[0153] Next is determined a VM as a copy source. The user selects a
VM as a copy source from the drop-down list 11520 in which a VM at
the site displayed in the text box 7450 is displayed and clicks the
add button 11530, to thereby determine the copy source VM. The
determined copy source VM is displayed in the text box 11550. If
the user wants to add another copy source VM, the user once again
selects a desired VM to be added from the drop-down list 11520 and
clicks the add button 11530, to thereby add another copy source
VM.
[0154] Next is specified a copy destination site. The user selects
a site as a copy destination from the drop-down list 7720 and
clicks the select button 7730, to thereby determine the copy
destination site. The determined copy destination site is displayed
in the text box 7750.
[0155] Finally, the use clicks the OK button 7900. This operation
makes the management program 1120 create a copy pair configuration
definition in which the VM displayed in the text box 11550 is the
copy source, and the site displayed in the text box 7750 is the
copy destination.
[0156] FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing of copy pair
configuration definition creation according to the fourth
embodiment. The processing of copy pair configuration definition
creation which is executed by the management program 1120 in the
management computer 1100 shown in FIG. 22 is similar to the
processing shown in FIG. 10, if the term "application" in FIG. 10
is substituted for the term "VM" in FIG. 22. Below is described the
processing in detail.
[0157] The processing starts at step S11600. In step S11610, the VM
configuration information acquisition unit 9910 acquires VM
configuration information at each site. More specifically, the VM
configuration information acquisition unit 9910 requests the server
virtualization program 9940 in the host computer 1200 included in
the configuration shown in FIG. 1 to acquire the VM configuration
table 9950 in which information on a VM in the host computer 1200
is managed. In step S11620, the VM configuration table creation
unit 9912 creates the VM configuration table 9920 in which
information on a site to which the VM belongs and information on a
host in operation is arranged, from the received VM configuration
table 9950.
[0158] In step S11630, the unused volume information acquisition
unit 1125 requests the storage microprogram 1330 in the storage
apparatus 1300 to acquire a name of a site connected to the
management computer 1100 and a usage condition of a volume at the
site. In step S11640, the site volume configuration table creation
unit 9915 creates the site volume configuration table 9924 in which
a relation between the VM at the site and the volume is arranged,
based on the VM configuration table 9920 created in step S11620 and
the usage condition of the storage received in step S11630. In step
S11650, the copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129
determines a copy type specified by the user and acquired via the
GUI display unit 1127.
[0159] In step S11660, the GUI display unit 1127 displays a list of
sites included in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 to the user.
The user specifies a site from the list. The copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 determines the site as
a copy source site. In step S11670, the GUI display unit 1127
displays, to the user, VMs present at the site determined by the
copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129 in step
S11660. The copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129
determines a plurality of the VMs specified by the user as copy
source VMs. Generally, replication as described above is performed
by a task as a unit. A task is typically constituted by a plurality
of applications, each of which runs in a VM on a one-to-one basis.
Thus, a plurality of VMs can be specified herein as copy
sources.
[0160] In step S11680, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 references the volume configuration table 9924
at the site created in step S11640. In step S11690, the copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 selects a volume used
by the VM determined in step S11670 without duplication. In step
S11695, the copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129
determines the volume selected in step S11690 as a copy source
volume.
[0161] In step S11700, the GUI display unit 1127 displays a site
included in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 to the user. The copy
pair configuration definition creation unit 1129 determines the
site specified by the user from among the sites acquired via the
GUI display unit 1127, as a copy destination site. In step S11710,
the copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129
references the volume configuration table 9924 at the site created
in step S11640. In step S11720, the copy pair configuration
definition creation unit 1129 determines whether or not there is a
volume having a capacity equal to or more than a capacity of the
copy source volume determined in step S11695, at the site
determined in step S11700.
[0162] In step S11740, if there is an unused volume having a
capacity equal to or more than a capacity of the copy source volume
determined in step S11695, at the site determined in step S11700
(Yes in step S11720), the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 determines the volume as the copy destination
volume.
[0163] In step S11700, if there is not an unused volume having a
capacity equal to or more than a capacity of the copy source volume
determined in step S11695, at the site determined in step S11700
(No in step S11720), the GUI display unit 1127 again displays the
site included in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 to the user. The
copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129 determines
the site specified by the user as the copy destination site.
[0164] In step S11750, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 creates a copy pair configuration definition in
which the volume determined in step S11695 is the copy source, and
the volume determined in step S11740 is the copy destination. In
step S11755, the processing of copy pair configuration definition
creation terminates.
[0165] In the present invention, a VM is specified as a copy
source. This makes it possible to create a copy pair configuration
definition without duplication or incompatibility. Creation of the
copy pair configuration definition by a VM as a unit allows a batch
copy of OS images and configuration information on a VM, an
application operating in the VM, and its associated data. Thus, a
task as a copy source can be performed without configuration
information, installing an application, or any other works at a
copy destination.
Fifth Embodiment
[0166] The fourth embodiment has described that a copy pair can be
created in a plurality of VMs constituting a task, by the task as a
unit. A fifth embodiment describes that, in a server virtualization
environment, a copy pair configuration definition can be created by
a site as a unit as described in the first embodiment. The site
used in the fifth embodiment means a set configured by the host
computer 1200, the storage apparatus 1300, and the data network
1500 for connecting the former two, in the server virtualization
environment described in the fourth embodiment.
[0167] It is advantageous to construct a replication environment by
the site because, if a disaster recovery is performed at a site,
many users want to protect all tasks rather than a specific task at
the site. In the present invention, a site is specified as a copy
source. This makes it possible to create a copy pair configuration
definition without duplication or incompatibility. Additionally,
after a copy source is specified by the site, an unnecessary VM
among VMs at the specified site can be deleted from the copy
source. This allows a further effective replication.
[0168] Creation of a copy pair configuration definition by the site
allows a bulk copy of OS images and configuration information on a
VM, an application operating in the VM, and its associated data.
Thus, a configuration of a site as a copy source can be created
without configuration information, installing an application, or
any other works at a copy destination. Note that a configuration of
the storage system in this embodiment is the same as that in the
fourth embodiment.
[0169] FIG. 23 shows an example of a GUI according to the fifth
embodiment. In FIG. 23, the copy pair create window 12000 includes
the copy type select window 7200, a copy source specify window
12200, the copy destination specify window 7700, and the OK button
7900. The copy type select window 7200 and the copy destination
specify window 7700 are configured same as those in the first
embodiment. Thus, only the copy source specify window 12200 is
described below in detail.
[0170] The copy source specify window 12200 is a window for
selecting a site as a copy source. The copy source specify window
12200 includes a copy source site specify window 12500 and a copy
source VM specify window 12600. The copy source site specify window
12500 is a window for specifying a site as a copy source. A
drop-down list 12520 displays a site shown at the site 10000 in the
VM configuration table 9920 of FIG. 19 as a candidate copy
destination. An add button 12530 is a button for adding the site
selected from the drop-down list 12520 as a copy source site. A
text box 12550 displays the name of the site added from the
drop-down list 12520 with the add button 12530.
[0171] The copy source VM specify window 12600 is a window for
specifying a VM as a copy source. A copy source VM name 12620
indicates that a name of the copy source VM is displayed. A text
box 12630 to the right of the copy source VM name 12620 displays a
VM included in the site displayed in the text box 12550. A delete
button 12610 is a button for deleting a VM selected from among one
or more VMs displayed in the text box 12630. The delete button
12610 can eliminate an unnecessary VM as a copy source from a
plurality of VMs at the site specified in the copy source site
specify window 12500.
[0172] Below are described step-by-step operations for creating a
copy pair configuration definition in this embodiment with
reference to FIG. 23, showing a difference from the operations
shown in FIG. 9 in the first embodiment. First, a task as a copy
source is determined. A user specifies a site as a copy source and
deletes, if needed, an unnecessary VM from among one or more VMs
included in the selected site. Next is determined a site as a copy
source. The user selects a site as the copy source from among one
or more sites displayed in the drop-down list 12520 and clicks the
add button 12530, to thereby determine the site as the copy
source.
[0173] If the user wants to add another copy source site, the user
once again selects a desired site to be added from the drop-down
list 12520 and clicks the add button 12530, to thereby add another
copy source site. If the user wants to delete an unnecessary VM
from among the VMs at the site, the user selects a VM to be deleted
from the text box 12630 and clicks the delete button 12610, to
thereby delete the unnecessary VM.
[0174] Next is specified a copy destination site, operations of
which are the same as those shown in FIG. 9 in the first
embodiment. Finally, the user clicks the OK button 7900. This
operation makes the management program 1120 create a copy pair
configuration definition in which the W shown in the text box 12630
is the copy source, and the site shown in the text box 7750 is the
copy destination.
[0175] FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing of copy pair
configuration definition creation according to the fifth
embodiment. The processing is described below with reference also
to FIG. 1 where necessary. The processing of copy pair
configuration definition creation which is executed by the
management program 1120 in the management computer 1100 shown in
FIG. 24 is described below in detail, while showing a difference
from the processing shown in FIG. 22 in the fourth embodiment.
[0176] The processing in this embodiment is the same as that in the
fourth embodiment from step S11600 at which the processing starts,
to step S11650 in which the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 determines a copy type. Thus, the processing
after step S11650 is described below.
[0177] In step S13050, the GUI display unit 1127 displays a list of
one or more sites included in the configuration shown FIG. 1 to the
user. The copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129
determines one or more sites specified therefrom by the user as a
copy source. In step S13060, the GUI display unit 1127 displays one
or more VMs present at the site determined in step S13050 to the
user and makes the user determine whether or not there is a VM
unnecessary to be copied from among the displayed VMs. In step
S13065, if there is a VM unnecessary to be copied (Yes in step
S13060), the copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129
deletes the unnecessary VM from the copy source VM. If there is not
a VM unnecessary to be copied (No in step S13060), the processing
proceeds with step S13070.
[0178] In step S13070, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 references the volume configuration table 9924
at the site created in step S11640. In step S13080, the copy pair
configuration definition creation unit 1129 selects a volume used
by the VM not deleted in step S13065 without duplication. In step
S13090, the copy pair configuration definition creation unit 1129
determines the volume selected in step S13080 as a copy source
volume.
[0179] The processing in this embodiment is the same as that in the
fourth embodiment from step S11700 in which the copy source site is
specified, to step S11740 in which the copy destination volume is
determined.
[0180] In step S13140, the copy pair configuration definition
creation unit 1129 creates a copy pair configuration definition in
which the volume determined in step S13090 is the copy source, and
the volume determined in step S11740 is the copy destination. In
step S13150, the processing of copy pair configuration definition
creation terminates.
[0181] In the present invention, a site is specified as a copy
source. This makes it possible to create a copy pair configuration
definition without duplication or incompatibility.
[0182] In this embodiment, the management computer 1100
consolidates management of a usage condition of a volume from the
host computer 1200 and the storage apparatus 1300 at each site and
prevents a volume from duplicating among applications as a copy
source. This makes it possible to select a used volume of an
application as a copy source without excess or deficiency. Further,
in this embodiment, if a replication environment is constructed in
a large-scale storage system, management of a usage condition of a
volume in the host computer 1200 and the storage apparatus 1300 at
each site is consolidated. This makes it possible to create a copy
pair configuration definition by the task which is constituted by a
plurality of applications. That is, even if a plurality of
applications share a single and same volume, a replication
environment can be constructed by the task without causing such
problems as a redundant configuration and inconsistent data between
applications.
[0183] The embodiments according to the present invention have been
explained as aforementioned. However, the embodiments of the
present invention are not limited to those explanations, and those
skilled in the art ascertain the essential characteristics of the
present invention and can make the various modifications and
variations to the present invention to adapt it to various usages
and conditions without departing from the spirit and scope of the
claims.
* * * * *